The Olympics Are Coming – The Olympics Are Coming

Mega-events like the Olympic Games can have both a positive and negative impact on global host cities. But what is the impact on the host city’s airports and its transportation infrastructure?

With the 2012 Olympic Games being hosted in London, England starting on July 27, the preparations to welcome the expected 700,000 additional international visitors to London are well underway. On my trip to London last July, I had a chance to see first-hand the brand new Olympic stadium under construction in East London and some of the transportation upgrades throughout the city in anticipation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Along with infrastructure improvements come jobs and economic benefits to host cities, plus the rewards to travelers and local with needed and/or lasting improvements for their transportation facilities.

Seemingly, London is one of those host cities that demonstrates on a daily basis that they can handle many millions of visitors each year at five separate airports, including Heathrow, which some people I know have called a “tourist destination” in itself. With air traffic estimated to triple in the next 30 years, Terminal 5, the home of British Airways, was a welcome addition to Heathrow’s services in advance of the 2012 Olympics.

In addition, a new Games Terminal is being constructed as part of the airport’s preparations for the Olympics. This terminal will serve as the departure point for more than 10,000 athletes departing the city at the conclusion of the games. This temporary facility erected on a parking lot will also be outfitted with special equipment, like lifts, for use by athletes competing in the Paralympic Games later in the year.

London is definitely in a good position with public transport options, unlike Los Angeles who hosted the 1984 Olympics. The city is known globally for its modern, massive public transport system that includes the London Underground, buses, coaches and many railway lines connecting just about every point in and around London. In an aggressive move, organizers have set a target that 100 per cent of spectators will get to event venues by public transport, walking or cycling.  We know this could never happen in many global cities, but we’ll soon know whether London can achieve that goal.

Recently, headlines have focused on warnings to the British government by the heads of four major airlines who believe there could be chaos at London's airports during the upcoming summer Olympic Games, because of the expected surge in air traffic at Heathrow, which they say is already operating at 99 per cent capacity. The group highlighted their primary areas of concern, including necessary air space to handle take-offs and landings during the Olympics, possible adverse weather events that may impact schedules, and any potential security incidents that may arise.

Talks are underway between the government and the airlines to address these concerns in advance of the games and to ensure that the impression visitors will form when they arrive and depart from Heathrow or any of London’s four other airports, gets them a gold medal. 

Beijing, as the host city for the 2008 Olympics, certainly deserves a gold medal for the significant infrastructure improvements made at its airport and with its transportation system. A beautiful new airport terminal was completed in advance of the Olympics, larger in size than even Heathrow.  Reportedly, it is one of the most attractive airports in the world. The new airport terminal, along with new roads, benefits not just the city’s visitors during the games, but they improve accessibility for Beijing residents and tourists. The best part is that the country picked up the tab, not the city of Beijing.

Robert K. Barney, professor emeritus and acting director of the International Center for Olympic Studies at the University of Western Ontario in Canada,  said, “For long-term benefits, host cities should focus on facilities that enhance urban life. They invariably focus on facilities put in place that involve transportation, communication and beautification, enhancing the quality of urban life.”

Olympic cities like Beijing, and soon London, do deserve gold medals. So will Brazil as they continue to focus on the construction of new airport facilities in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games. Cities who invest in improving airports and transportation, not just for the games, but for the long-term are the real medalists.  

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Agnes Huff, PhD, has more than 25 years of experience providing specialized strategic public relations and marketing, crisis management and business consulting to a diverse group of clients in the aviation industry. In 1995, she founded Agnes Huff Communications Group (AHCG) an integrated marketing and PR consulting firm headquartered in Los Angeles. Clients include national and international airports and airlines, government entities, travel and tourism organizations, and transportation companies, among other high-profile industry clients. She welcomes feedback and will respond to comments at [email protected]. More information on AHCG is available at www.ahuffgroup.com.